Gordon vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than Gordon based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Gordon vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or CU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon State College than CU ($7,807 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 18.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($10,444 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 667.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $24,212 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154.3% higher at CU than at Gordon State College (about $16,892 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Gordon State College (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 282.3% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($24,703 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or CU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CU and Gordon.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
• Gordon has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 40.5% at CU.

Gordon vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and CU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $4,229 lower median loan debt than CU graduates ($17,500 vs. $21,729).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU graduates ($180 vs. $224).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.